Mareuil-sur Lay

The picturesque town at the meeting of Rivers Lay
and marillet is the centre of one of the greatest concentrations of
wine growers with the largest wine output per head in France with one in
ten of its population in wine production. The "Route des Vin" is
well sign posted and well worth the trip not only for the sampling of
wine, but as the route passes through some very pleasant
countryside. Most Vendeens will tell you this is the best wine in the
Vendee and especially that produced around Rosney a small commune just
west of the town.

The V11century Romanesque Church of St.Sauveur and castle
overlook the river Lay as it wanders its way from the Bocage to the
Marais then to the sea at L'Aiguillon-sur-mer. Canoes can be hired at the foot of the bridge in the town.
Just north of the town is the lake of Chateau Guibert ideal for fishing and walks.
Situated as it is at the junctions of the Bocage, the plaine and the Marais Poitevin it is an ideal location to discover this interesting part of the Vendee.

Mareuil-sur-Lay is well served with Restaurants and cafes as well as
more general shops for the day to day necessaries. The road through the
town is a busy one and the traffic lights means that there is often long
delays in the busy summer days.Another pretty village is that of Mortiers-sur-le-Lay just a couple of kilometers upstream, it is well worth the detour.

Swimming Pool. The pools is open during the summer months from 11.45 to 19.00

Musee Terre d'Antan. La Billerie. Tel.02 51 30 56 73.
Museum of over 250 agricultural machine and huge number of working tools
used in farming. Housed under over 1200m² of exhibition space.Open;
July August every day 10h to 12h and 14h30 to 18h and in June,
September and October on Mondays,Wednesdays and Saturdays 14h30 to 18h.